Diplomatic activity engulfs Lebanon

BEIRUT: Foreign officials flocked to Beirut Friday in the latest flurry of diplomatic activity centered around the fallout of the Syrian conflict and the influx of refugees into neighboring countries.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier held a series of separate meetings with President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.

Both Cavusoglu and Steinmeier hailed the election of Aoun and ongoing efforts to form a new Cabinet as an important milestone in restoring stability in Lebanon, which currently hosts more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees.

Cavusoglu also called for an immediate ceasefire in Syria, describing the events taking place in Aleppo as "critical," while stressing that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad was unfit to stay in power.

"Assad's existence in power cannot fortify the unity of Syria, since a person responsible for the death of more than 600,000 of his people cannot remain in power," Cavusoglu said during a joint news conference with Bassil at the Foreign Ministry in Beirut.

The Turkish official expressed his support for meetings between the region's main players – the United States and Russia – in an attempt for swift actions for ending hostilities in Syria, especially in Aleppo.

"The war in Aleppo is worrying, the international community should get together to facilitate a solution in Syria in order to reach a cease-fire through collective efforts," he said.

Turkey is a major backer of rebels fighting to oust the Assad regime which is supported by Russia. However, the rebels have fallen under siege in eastern Aleppo after progressive advances by government forces in recent days.

Cavusoglu said Turkey was speaking with Assad's allies Russia and Iran, as well as with Syria and Lebanon, in an attempt to broker a solution.

Cavusoglu's comments in Beirut come one day following his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Turkey. It was at that meeting that Moscow agreed on the need for a halt to fighting and the provision of aid in Aleppo, but deep divisions remain over the conflict.

Bassil said that his country's position on Syria was "clear," adding that "we stressed the necessity to reinforce relations between Lebanon and Turkey, and we should ensure the right conditions for the return of displaced Syrians to safe regions in their country."

Lebanon has suffered from a massive influx of Syrian refugees ever since the conflict broke out in its neighboring country in 2011, which has burdened local economy and infrastructure.

According to UNICEF, there are 2.8 million children out of school in the region and child refugees are particularly at risk of exploitation and abuse. The U.N. agency says it is addressing child labor by providing free education and economic opportunities for parents and youth of working age.